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She shakes her head, wiping away a tear from the corner of her eye.
“I’m sorry,” she says, dropping her head as she breaks down all over again. “I should have called you.”
My heart aches for her, and I feel a sting of tears in my own eyes as I pull her tight against me, praying that my arms bring her a sense of peace.
I’ll do anything to make this better.
“It’s alright,” I whisper, pressing my lips to the top of her head. “Everything’s alright.”
She shakes her head and stands up suddenly.
“No, it’s not!” she yells, the unexpected force of her voice startling me.
I slowly push myself up from the floor as she continues.
“It’s not fucking okay, Marcus! He showed up here last night after you left! He threatened me -”
The words hit me like a physical blow. White-hot rage sweeps through me as my brain struggles to process what she’s saying.
“I’m sorry, he – what?”
My pulse throbs in my ears as I take a step back from her, blinking rapidly.
My head feels dizzy and the hairs on my arms stand up as thoughelectrified.
“Let me get this straight…” I measure each word, fighting to stay rational even as adrenaline floods my system. “The man you believe killed someone… in the middle of the street… camehere…and you just let him in?”
She shakes her head frantically. “No! I mean, maybe, I don’t know, but –“
My jaw drops as I stare at her, my eyes narrowing in shock as an unwelcome memory surfaces – Elle’s tear-streaked face when she left.
The same sick feeling washes over me now.
“But what?” I ask, my voice harder than I intend.
My chest starts to ache with a familiar pain - a kind of pain I promised I’d never let myself feel again.
My fingers curl into fists at my sides as a hurtful pang cuts through me, sharp and unwelcome.
If she has something else going on, I’m out. I’m not interested in playing these fucked up games.
I turn back to look at her. I need to see the truth in her eyes.
“You still have feelings for this guy?” I ask, the accusation tumbling out before I can stop it.
“No!” Lila yells. “Not at all! I swear! It’s nothing like that!”
A million and one thoughts race through my mind, trying to understand.
“Then what? Why else wouldn’t you call the police?” I demand, taking a breath to steady myself as the sound of my own voice comes out more aggressive than I mean it to.
“Because - he threatened me.”
She stands across the room from me, her arms hanging helplessly by her sides, a look of utter defeat etched on her face.
“He asked if I’d told them his name, and when I said I hadn’t - that I didn’t know it was him - he warned that if I said anything else, he’d kill me!”
Her voice breaks on the last words as she brushes past me and drops onto the couch, burying her face in her hands.